Bristlecone Birkebeiner

The Cross-country Ski and Snowshoe courses will traverse the Birkebeiner Loop (D Loop). The Kids Ski course is an out-and-back on the Shelter Connector Trail. And the Fat Tire Bike course is a loop using the Birkebeiner Loop, Atta Boy Loop, and Revenue Loop Trails.

If there isn't enough snow, their will be a Long and Short Course Trail Run, and a Kids Trail Run that follows the same trails as the cross-country ski events. And there will be a fat tire/mountain bike event that will follow the same route as the fat tire route.

Not-enough-snow Schedule of Events:8:00 am - Onsite Registration9:00 am - Mountain bike/Fat Tire - $259:05 am - Long Course Trail Run - $259:10 am - Short Course Trail Run - $2010:30 am - Kids Trail Run - $10Medals will be awarded as following:Long Course Ski/Trail Run - top three male & top three femaleShort Course Ski/Trail Run - top three male & top three femaleKids Course Ski/Trail Run - top three kidsSnowshoe Course- top threeFat Tire Bike/Mountain Bike Course - top three

ELY, Nev. – The Bureau of Land Management Ely District, Bristlecone Field Office is asking the public to provide input on a proposal to designate in White Pine County a signed trail system consisting of existing roads and trails that would be open to all uses. The 30-day public scoping period concludes Monday, Dec. 24, 2018.

The BLM will host an open house-style public input meeting from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 6, at the White Pine County Library, 950 Campton Street, in Ely.

The White Pine County Commission has requested that BLM prepare an environmental assessment analyzing routes for a potential trail system. The BLM will consider one new proposed route and one route previously selected as the Silver State Off-Highway Vehicle Trail. The BLM may consider additional alternatives based on cooperating agency and public input.

Documents and maps are available online at https://go.usa.gov/xPvNT. Address all written comments to the BLM Ely District Office, 702 North Industrial Way, Ely, NV 89301, and Attn: Project Manager John Miller. Submit comments electronically at

Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment – including your personal identifying information – may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

For more information, contact BLM Outdoor Recreation Planner John Miller at (775) 289-1800 or jrmiller@blm.gov

Photography by Lorraine Clark

​Fort Churchill

By Lorraine Clark

Nevada has a variety of state parks throughout the state that offer recreation, beautiful scenery, and history of the Silver State. We recently visited one of these state parks, Fort Churchill, located along the Carson River. This park is 40 miles east of Carson City.

Fort Churchill was established July 20, 1860 to protect settlers along the Carson River and the Pony Express route that ran near here. This had been the route for the Overland stage and later would be the route the telegraph lines followed across the Nevada Territory.

The adobe ruins of the fort buildings surround the parade ground. The headquarters building is restored and serves as the visitor center for the park. Field cannons, displays of equipment, and photos tell the story of the fort and life in this part of Nevada. Hiking trails and camping are available.

Great Basin National Park​​3rd ANNUAL PHOTO CONTEST

We want to see the way you see Great Basin National Park! To do this, we're going to be asking you to send in some of your best pictures of the park from 2018. Whether it’s of wildlife, scenery, or recreational activities, we want to see it and share it!“Fan Favorites” will be featured on the Great Basin National Park Facebook page, and the "Grand Prize Winner" will be featured as the cover photo for next year's park newspaper. Submit up to three of your own photos, and log on to Facebook to vote for your favorites in early February 2019.

Heli-ski and rhyme with cowboys in Cowboy Country (Northern Nevada)The Ruby Mountains Wilderness in northeastern Nevada brims with wildlife, as well as 24 alpine lakes and 10 peaks above 10,000 feet. Expert skiers can try the Ruby Mountains Heli Experience, where helicopters bring athletes to untouched runs, led by experienced backcountry guides. Stay at the new Ruby 360 Lodge, situated at 10,000 feet among the Rubies, often called the Alps of Nevada. After a day on the slopes, cozy up in the Western Folklife Center in Elko for the 35th annual National Cowboy Poetry Gathering, Jan 28-Feb. 2. Spoken-word poets tell stories and personal narratives of their lives on the range. During the gathering, meet popular western artist Billy Schenck at the Art of the West Reception. Try this road trip! The Rubies Route.

Explore Western heritage in Nevada Silver Trails Territory (Central Nevada)In Goldfield, stop in the Historic Bullfrog-Goldfield Railroad Yard, right across the street from the Santa Fe Saloon, the oldest operating business and longest standing saloon in town. Head north, and discover the historical ruins in the living ghost town that is Manhattan. The town does receive snow in the winter, so warm up with a hot cocktail while visiting with the locals at Manhattan Motel & Bar, the only functioning business in town. Drive down the Extraterrestrial Highway (Nevada state Route 375) and stop for a photo outside of the mysterious Area 51. While you’re traveling on the lonely road, stop for some sustenance at the Little A’Le’Inn or ET Fresh Jerky––but watch out for little green men and unidentified flying objects. Try this road trip! Extraterrestrial Highway

Celebrate the season with high altitude holidays and luxe aprés experiences in Reno-Tahoe Territory (Northwestern Nevada)This winter, Lake Tahoe hosts a season of events, including the fourth annual Tahoe Film Fest, Dec. 6-9, and the Northern Lights festival Nov. 30-Dec. 23 in Incline Village, and various New Year’s Eve celebrations. Take a few turns down Mt. Rose-Ski Tahoe, one of the region’s 12 downhill ski resorts. Catch air at the new terrain park at Diamond Peak or enjoy a scenic gondola tour at Heavenly Mountain Resort. For families and non-skiers, try an offbeat winter activity such as moonlit snowshoe tours, fat tire biking or cross-country skiing. In Reno, take advantage of the eclectic brewery and distillery scene, from vacuum-distilled spirits at 10 Torr to flavorful brews at the The Depot, located within a renovated train depot. Hit the streets Dec. 15, for the annual Santa Pub Crawl with thousands of Santas, reindeers and elves— and don’t miss the iconic all-community “Santa Selfie” in front of the Reno Arch. Nightlife continues from dusk until dawn— from Midtown craft cocktail bars to nightclubs and entertainment within the city’s resort-casinos. Enjoy a luxury treatment at Reno’s newest Spa at Silver Legacy, or catch a live performance at one of the city’s underground theaters or mainstream venues. Try this road trip! Lake Tahoe Loop

Party like a cowboy in Las Vegas Territory (Southern Nevada)This holiday season, head to Las Vegas, the city of lights, where visitors can drive through millions of Christmas lights at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, through Jan. 6. The city draws the most talented cowboys and cowgirls from around the world for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, Dec 6-15. Bring your dancing boots and fringe for 10 days of world championship rodeo, country music concerts and the iconic Cowboy Christmas Show, where holiday shoppers can find presents while sipping on a spicy Bloody Mary. Located just outside of Las Vegas, the city of Henderson hosts Winterfest (Dec. 7-8), which transforms the Henderson Events Plaza into a winter wonderland, with lights, activities and craft vendors. Try this road trip! Death Drive

Discover ancient petroglyphs and a vibrant Native American culture in Nevada’s Indian TerritoriesNevada is home to 27 federally recognized Indian tribes, each with its own rich histories and traditions. Visit the Stewart Indian School in Carson City, a former federal boarding school for American Indian children. Today, you can walk the grounds while listening to an audio tour accessible via personal cell phone, and next year, a new museum is expected to open on the site. In southern Nevada, at the Lost City Museum in Overton, view ancient artifacts from American Indian sites; or discover prehistoric petroglyphs at Grapevine Canyon, in Laughlin.

About TravelNevada​The Nevada Division of Tourism (Travel Nevada) is part of the Nevada Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs. It promotes and markets Nevada as a tourism destination for domestic and international leisure and business travelers through its marketing and advertising programs and by coordinating partnerships between public and private entities. TravelNevada also administers grant programs for local entities to market travel and tourism offerings and publishes Nevada Magazine.

...celebrating where the world met and became one...

Lehman Caves Winter Tour Schedule: November 1, 2018 through March 7, 2019Grand Palace Tour Open to all ages during winter schedule only1:00pm Monday - Thursday9:00am & 1:00pm Friday through Sundays There are no tours available on Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Years Day.